To the editor:

I appreciated the article about Independence Inc. in Sunday’s paper. I don’t believe the community is fully aware of the important services they help provide. As a former employee of Independence Inc., my eyes were opened to the world of people with disabilities.

When thinking about people with disabilities, what came to mind was someone in a wheelchair or people with developmental disabilities. I didn’t realize how naive I was and how limited my world view was.

I had never seen someone so disabled with arthritis that they spent their days in a special wheelchair, unable to walk, use their hands or arms. I had never seen people with stable mental illness grow, gain confidence, and be able to become employed. I had never seen someone whose life was dramatically transformed by the simple addition of a wheelchair ramp into their home. There are so many stories I could tell.

I had never seen someone wait two years to be awarded disability benefits who struggled with multiple physical problems. One day this person said to me, “Sometimes I wonder, why me? But then I think, why not me?” This displayed a resilience that left me wondering about my own courage.

I finally “got it” as to why ADA requirements are in place. And, I understood the value of living independently. Care attendants make that possible. They get paid little and they work hard.

Please support Medicaid funding. The person it helps could easily someday be you.